The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-08
THE FEE AND SALARY QUESTION.

salary question as 1t relates to county officers.
On no other is public sentiment better defined
or more pronounced. The people desire and
even demand legislation on the subject and
if the General Assembly fails to enact iu-
dicious bill in this behalf the people will locate
the responsibility where it belongs and visit
censure accordingly. The subject has been
one of public discussion and public scandal for
years past. Among the political abuses Of the
times it ranks as one of the greatest. AS a
source of corruption and constant and per-
petual demoralizing influence, we know of
nothing else that equals the excessive emolu-
ments of many of our county Offices. There
is no reason, sense nor justice in system that
makes those emoluments so out of all compar-
ison greater than the salaries that prevail in
private business and greater than the average
county official ever did or could earn in any
other way. These excessive emoluments
often amounting to many thousands of dollarsa
year more than a reasonable compensation,
represent system Of legalized extortion. The
money comes out Of the people, and is an
cessive fees make the offices so lucrative that
they become valuable prizes, to obtain
which large sums of money are spent This
creates an army of Office seekers in both
parties, who engage in one race of corruption
to obtain the nomination, and then in another
to carry the election. The greater the emol-
uments of the Office, the more the candidate
can afford to spend to get it. Often the can
didates on both sides spend whole years
income in advance. The defeated candidate,
perhaps, is ruined, while the successful one
takes the office burdened with debt, and
Immediately sets about recovering his cam
paign expenses from the people. Thus honest
men, good citizens and tax payers:JQ 1e, in the
end, made to foot the bills for all kinds of
dirty work and corruption in politics. A
more vicious system never existed. 1t is
thoroughly bad and should be reformed alto
gether County officers should be we'll paid,
but not exorbitantly. The fee system, III its
present form, should be abolished. Each office
should have attached to it fixed salary,
forming the basis of reasonable compensa-
ton, with a sliding scale of additional pay
according to population, the compensation in
no case to exceed fixed limit. All fees in
excess Of the compensation allowed by law
should be strictly accounted for Some such
system as this is what the people desire, and
what the general welfare and public morals
demand. It is in existence in Ohio and in
other States.
Among the amendments submitted to the
people in March, 1881, was one providing
that the Legislature might pass special law
grading the compensation of officers in pro-
portion to the population and the necessary
services required" This amendment was
adopted by a majority of 100, 1885, The vote
was irrespective Of party, and the large ma
jority given for the amendment shows that
the people demand it. Nothing has yet been
done to give effect to their will thus expressed.
The Republican party is pledged to do So
The last State convention embodied in its
platform declaration that "The amendment
to the Constitution of the State providing for
| the equalization of fees and salaries ought not
to remain dead letter, and we favor the
enactment of a just law for the compensation
of all public officials" The Republican party
is distinctly pledged on this subject and it
| cannot, without breaking faith with the peo-
| pie, fail to make an honest and earnest effort
to secure the enactment of a fee and salary
| bill at this session of the General Assembly.
As to the general principle and the end to
| be secured by such a measure, there
| will be no difference Of opinion among
| those who recognize the necessity of the
| reform. The details are not difficult Of adj
| justment. The objection that such a meas
ure would be unjust to the present incum-
| bents of office can be obviated by making the
| bill take effect at future time, from and
after certain date. It would not be entirely
| fair to present inc umbents TO cut down the
compensation prevailing when they were elect
| ed; but there could be no injustice to future
| candidates or incumbents in fixing scale of
salaries, with due notice to all concerned. AS
remarked before, the details are not difficult
Of adjustment, and on no subject are the Re-
publicans more distinctly pledged and honor
ably bound than on this. OF course, there
will be opposition to q reduction of fees and